MUN blamed for diamond impasse

A VISIT to the office of the President by representatives of Lev Leviev Diamonds Namibia last week ended with the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and its Secretary General Joseph Hengari being singled out as the main cause of the troubles currently facing 250 workers fired from the company last week.

Top management of LLD on Thursday afternoon visited the office of President Hifikepunye Pohamba, along with the Labour and Diamond Commissioners, to brief him on the month-long protest that continues in front of their gates despite the company’s recent decision to dismiss the workers. During the meeting, it is understood that both the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ulitala Hiveluah, and Labour Commissioner Bro-Matthew Shinguadja accused the union of trying to hamper attempts to reach a solution to the conflict between the company and the former workers.According to the minutes of the meeting, Hiveluah accused Hengari of lying during negotiations, backtracking on agreements reached during talks, and misinforming the workers he represents – a move they said forced the company’s hand in dismissing the workers.The workers have been camping outside the company premises in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area since mid-June after walking out of negotiations over wages and other demands they had.According to the workers, they were frustrated with the company’s legal representative constantly delaying their talks, and embarked on a wildcat strike.The company followed this by suspending the workers involved, but later withdrew this decision – calling on the workers to return to work and face disciplinary action.When most of the workers failed to accept this invitation by the beginning of June, the company started disciplinary action against them and subsequently dismissed all who did not show up.The workers, with the help of the union, are appealing this decision.They argue that they still consider themselves on suspension, and thus they were not guilty of a strike but merely a demonstration.At Thursday’s meeting, Shinguadja apparently told President Pohamba that, because of the workers’ illegal actions at the instigation of their leaders, there could have been no other outcome.As Government agencies, he said, neither commission could allow itself to be associated with any illegal actions without addressing them.Diamond Commissioner Kennedy Hamutenya is said to have complained to the President that the MUN was not the right union to govern the diamond cutting and polishing industry, saying that they mainly concern themselves with making outrageous demands.The industry in Namibia was still in its infant stages, he said, and was bringing in a very low profit, especially when compared to India and China.The Diamond Commissioner urged Government to get involved in rescuing the industry, which it said might soon be forced to close down.The company has expressed disappointment over the size of diamonds supplied to them for polishing, saying this could not sustain its current workforce.Demonstrators spoken to last week on the other hand expressed their displeasure with the Labour Commissioner, who they went to see on Wednesday.According to group spokesperson Mathew Mtembi, Shinguadja was taking the side of the company rather than remaining impartial.”He says we (leaders) should be punished more severely, because we instigated this thing.How could we? We’re just seeing that what the people want is done.If we did nothing, the workers would attack us and blame us if something happened to them,” he said.”They (company) want us to down our tents and go home.But we won’t, because we know then they would phone us individually.Even now, they’re planning on doing the appeals individually, but we’re saying no.We are here as a joint group,” Mtembi said, adding that the company apparently wanted to get rid of certain workers while retaining others.Today marks day 26 of the workers protest outside the factory.During the meeting, it is understood that both the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ulitala Hiveluah, and Labour Commissioner Bro-Matthew Shinguadja accused the union of trying to hamper attempts to reach a solution to the conflict between the company and the former workers.According to the minutes of the meeting, Hiveluah accused Hengari of lying during negotiations, backtracking on agreements reached during talks, and misinforming the workers he represents – a move they said forced the company’s hand in dismissing the workers.The workers have been camping outside the company premises in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area since mid-June after walking out of negotiations over wages and other demands they had.According to the workers, they were frustrated with the company’s legal representative constantly delaying their talks, and embarked on a wildcat strike.The company followed this by suspending the workers involved, but later withdrew this decision – calling on the workers to return to work and face disciplinary action.When most of the workers failed to accept this invitation by the beginning of June, the company started disciplinary action against them and subsequently dismissed all who did not show up.The workers, with the help of the union, are appealing this decision.They argue that they still consider themselves on suspension, and thus they were not guilty of a strike but merely a demonstration.At Thursday’s meeting, Shinguadja apparently told President Pohamba that, because of the workers’ illegal actions at the instigation of their leaders, there could have been no other outcome.As Government agencies, he said, neither commission could allow itself to be associated with any illegal actions without addressing them.Diamond Commissioner Kennedy Hamutenya is said to have complained to the President that the MUN was not the right union to govern the diamond cutting and polishing industry, saying that they mainly concern themselves with making outrageous demands.The industry in Namibia was still in its infant stages, he said, and was bringing in a very low profit, especially when compared to India and China.The Diamond Commissioner urged Government to get involved in rescuing the industry, which it said might soon be forced to close down.The company has expressed disappointment over the size of diamonds supplied to them for polishing, saying this could not sustain its current workforce.Demonstrators spoken to last week on the other hand expressed their displeasure with the Labour Commissioner, who they went to see on Wednesday.According to group spokesperson Mathew Mtembi, Shinguadja was taking the side of the company rather than remaining impartial.”He says we (leaders) should be punished more severely, because we instigated this thing.How could we? We’re just seeing that what the people want is done.If we did nothing, the workers would attack us and blame us if something happened to them,” he said.”They (company) want us to down our tents and go home.But we won’t, because we know then they would phone us individually.Even now, they’re planning on doing the appeals individually, but we’re saying no.We are here as a joint group,” Mtembi said, adding that the company apparently wanted to get rid of certain workers while retaining others.Today marks day 26 of the workers protest outside the factory.